ITB 26-04-214208 ARRC Seward Living Reef Construction

The Alaska Railroad Corporation (ARRC) is soliciting competitive sealed bids through Invitation to Bid (ITB) #26-04-214208 for the construction of an artificial marine reef in Resurrection Bay, Seward, Alaska, serving as compensatory mitigation for the Seward Freight Dock expansion project. The reef will be constructed in shallow water above elevation -80.0 feet in city-owned tidelands adjacent to the Alaska SeaLife Center, with Phase 1 covering approximately 2.80 acres and provisions for future expansion phases totaling an additional 2.18 acres. Deliverables include mobilization, fabrication of structural reef units (including three spare units), transportation and storage, deployment and installation, as-built plans, and permit compliance allowances; contractors may utilize Reef Ball Foundation "Supra-ball" units per the concept design or propose alternative reef systems with prior approval from ARRC and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The project requires substantial completion by November 26, 2026, and final completion by December 31, 2026, with Phase 1 construction consisting of approximately 105-142 reef structural units deployed in clusters with approximately 50-foot spacing to provide habitat for juvenile fish and marine invertebrates. Bids must be submitted via Dropbox by 3:00 PM local time on April 13, 2026, with public bid opening via Microsoft Teams and in-person attendance available at ARRC's Anchorage office; a non-mandatory site visit is scheduled for 2:00 PM on March 17, 2026, at the Sea Life Center parking area, and a non-mandatory pre-bid conference will be held at 2:00 PM on March 19, 2026, via Microsoft Teams. All bids must be accompanied by a bid bond in the amount of five percent of the bid price, and the successful bidder must execute a construction contract and provide payment and performance bonds each in the amount of 100 percent of the contract value within ten calendar days of award notification. Award will be made to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, with bids remaining firm for 60 days from bid opening; contractors must comply with Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development prevailing wage requirements, FRA Drug & Alcohol Testing Compliance requirements under 49 C.F.R. Part 219 (including Avetta registration), weekly certified payroll submissions, and ARRC safety policies, and liquidated damages will be assessed if substantial completion is not achieved by the November 26, 2026 deadline.

No set-aside designations or restrictions limiting the types of organizations that can respond to this solicitation are identified in the available procurement documents, and no incumbent vendors or current contractors are referenced. The project is subject to Alaska state prevailing wage rates as established by the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, with wage rates effective September 1, 2025, and applicable to this project given the April 13, 2026 bid date; hourly rates vary by trade classification and region, ranging from approximately $44 to $121 per hour depending on specific classification and benefits included, and contractors on remote projects located 65 or more road miles from major airports must provide board and lodging or pay a minimum per diem of $100 per day. Funding is provided entirely through ARRC internal resources, with Phase 1 mitigation estimated at $500,000 and Phases 2 and 3 combined estimated at a similar cost; however, funding for Phases 2 and 3 is to be secured at a later date. The project may be subject to Davis-Bacon Act requirements if federal funds are determined to be utilized, and all contractors must be registered with Avetta for FRA compliance verification. Monitoring of reef colonization is required for three years following installation, with annual reports documenting structural integrity, marine life colonization, and photographic documentation to be submitted to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to ensure the reef achieves the required 1:1 compensation ratio for the 4.75 acres of waters of the United States impacted by the dock expansion.